Questions and Answers On Birdiness and Scenting

By Jim & Phyllis Dobbs

We have written so many columns for Pointing Dog Journal that
we were running out of ideas for topics. So it was suggested that we try
something new- answering the readers' questions. We hope our answers will
be of help to many of you.

Getting Pups Started on Birds

Question: I have a two-month-old pup that I would like to train
myself. I was wondering when should I introduce him to birds?

Answer: We like to start pups on birds when they are very young,
if possible, before they are three months old. Starting a pup young is
done for two reasons.

First, we want the pup to get "hooked" on birds by giving him early experience
to instill a desire to hunt that will last a lifetime. The second reason
for an early start is that it is usually easier to cause a pup to point
rather than flush at this young age. Most pups are not as brave as an
older dog and will stop short of putting their head down into cover when
they can't see birds but can smell them. This technique can help start
pups pointing at a very young age.

The Not-So-Birdie Dog

Question: I have an eight-month-old Vizsla that seems not to be
the least bit birdie. I've never hunted behind a pointing dog, but it
seems as though she is not getting "jacked up" about the scent of the
pigeons or chukars that I have planted for her. I have three bird launchers
and have had her out a few times on them. Am I expecting too much too
soon?

Answer: If a dog isn't interested in birds, place a lightly dizzied
bird out in the open. You want the dog to see it easily as he approaches.
Birds planted in this fashion will usually fly away from an approaching
dog. Allow the dog to experience the thrill of the chase in order to develop
more interest in hunting, then go back to using your launchers.

If the dog isn't inherently "birdie", allowing her to chase will help
her acquire a desire for birds. We have often seen a dog that you would
swear could only be a pet, but developed into a very good hunting dog
after its first season of hunting. Sometimes you just have to be patient
as it can take maturity and exposure to hunting for latent potential to
blossom.

Enhancing Scenting Conditions

Question: My GSP pup is at the beginning of his training (10
weeks old) and I am starting him on obedience. My question is I live in
Arizona and I have hunters tell me that the dogs don't do real well in
the dry weather because they don't scent as good here. Is this true, and
if so, can training like a scent dog or tracking dog work for bird dogs
(with liquid quail scent)?

Answer: Hot, dry conditions can make scenting harder for the
dog. For training purposes, there are several ways to enhance the scenting
conditions and help the dog have success. Here are a few ways to make
scenting easier for beginning dogs when scenting conditions are poor.

Plant several birds in one place.

Elevate the bird by placing it up in a bush.

Plant the birds with their tail feathers pointed into the wind.

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Wet the pad under the bird when using a launcher.

Use training scent where the bird is planted.

Running Past Birds

Question: I have a 10- month-old GSP that seems to do well with
the yard work the "whoa", "come", "heel", "sit", and "stay". He goes nuts
over live birds. This is my first pointing dog, and so far with my inexperience
and his age, I feel we are progressing well. The only problem I am having
is that he will occasionally walk right over a planted bird. I get a little
concerned when he walks over birds that he should be finding easily. Is
this something that will sharpen with age and experience?

Answer: It is not uncommon for a young excitable dog to run past
birds. Sometimes the dog may be very close to a bird when he runs past
it, all he has to do in that narrow scent cone, is to be exhaling instead
of inhaling to miss a bird. However, if that is not the case and your
pup is not that close to the bird, you may also need to enhance the scenting
conditions. We are advocates of frequently planting more than one bird
in a place.

Often youngster's legs are a few steps ahead of his brain so to speak.
As your pup becomes more experienced, he will learn to think through his
nose and running past birds will diminish.

False Pointing

Question: I am new to GSP's and hunting. I recently got my first
female GSP (four months). She is pointing rabbits, bees, dead sunflowers
and just about anything. Is it okay for her to point these things, or
will it hurt her pointing of birds in the future?

Answer: It is great that she is demonstrating a lot of inherent
pointing instinct. We would start immediately getting this pup into as
many pigeons and quail as possible. She will get "hooked" on birds and
forget about false pointing trash.